Gardener s and cotton-picker s brace



(No Model.)

J. D.M0KINNEY. GARDENERS AND COTTON PIGKERS BEACH. 663

. Patented July 9, 1889 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. MCKINNEY, OF MOSSY CREEK, GEORGIA.

GARDENERS AND COTTON-PICKERS BRACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,663, dated July 9,1889.

Application filed November 13, 1888. Serial No. 290,751- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JAMES D. MCKINNEY, of Mossy Creek, in the county ofWhite and State of Georgia, have invented anew and useful Improvement inGardeners and Cotton- Pickers Braces, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention is in the nature of an improved brace for the use ofgardeners, cottonpickers, truckmen, and others whose occupation requiresthem to do a great deal of stooping, the object being to relieve themuscles ofthe back, loins, and thighs of the severe strain by affordinga support for the upper part of the body when in the bent position.

Figure 1 is a view of my improved brace shown applied to a workman, andFig. 2 is a plan view of the brace laid out flat.

A is a pad designed to bear just above the hips or thigh-bones andagainst the pelvis.

B is a spring fastened securely to the middle of the pad and extendingup the middle line of the back to a point between the shoulders, whereit is jointed to a cross-bar E. At the point of connection between thespring B and the elastic cross-bar E there is a slot a, that permits thecross-bar to be adjusted higher or lower, according to the length of theback of the workman. At the outer ends of the crossbar E are thearm-rings F, to which are connected the two ends of the breast-strap G.

O C are flat springs attached to the pad A on each side of the spring 13and extending downwardly. These springs have at their lower ends strapsor hooks D D, adapted to be fastened around the legs of the workmanabove the knee. g

This brace is applied, as shown in Fig. 1, with the pad A just above thehips and resting against the pelvis, the two springs G extending downbehind the legs and strapped to them above the knee, the spring Bextending up along the backbone, the bar E extending across theshoulders, the rings I receiving the arms close up to the shoulders, andthe strap G fastened across the breast. WVhen thus adjusted the pad Afulfills the same office to springs B and C that the pelvis does to themuscles of the thighand back.

The elasticity of the springs B and C permits the body to be bent to astooping posture, and yet the tension or resilience of these springsserves to support the weight of the upper part of the body,concentrating the strain upon the pad A as a fulcrum-point on thepelvis, which is the natural support of the upper half of the body. Bythis means the muscles of the back, loins, and thighs are relieved ofthe exhausting strain due to the cramped position, and as this kind ofwork is rendered more easy and comfortable the efficiency of the workmanis greatly increased.

In making use of my invention I may dispense with the arm-rings F andadjust the elastic cross-bar E with its straps so as to pass around thebreast just below the arms like a belt. Instead of flexible straps D forthe legs, I may also use hoops or hooks of metal or other material.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is '1. A bracefor gardeners, cotton-pickers,

&c., consisting of a fulcrum-pad adapted to bear upon the pelvis andhaving two springs attached thereto and extending downwardly behind thelegs and provided with fastenings, and a middle spring extendingupwardly, and fastening devices for connecting its upper end to the armsor shoulders, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A brace for gardeners, cotton-pickers, &c., consisting of thecombination of a fulcrum-pad A, two springs C 0, extending downwardlytherefrom and provided with straps D D, for securing the same to thelegs, a middle spring B, extending upwardly, and a cross--

